FALL 2008 - Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County

www.thefoodbank.org
FALL 2008
21st Annual Holiday Food Drive Goal: 1,400,000 meals
Local Leaders Call the Community to Action to Help Hungry Families
Second Harvest is gearing up for the 21st Annual Holiday Food Drive and we need your help! This year’s goal of 1.8 million pounds
of food (or cash equivalent) will create over 1,400,000 meals for hungry families. Holiday Food Drive Co-Chairs, Community Leader
Sandi Eason and Annieglass CEO Annie Morhauser, are challenging representatives of over 500 area businesses and organizations to stand up, be
counted and donate
like never before.
Make plans to attend
the kick-off luncheon,
Thursday, November
6, noon–1:30pm at
the Cocoanut Grove
in Santa Cruz. The
community support
received during
Holiday Food Drive
helps provide food
Rotary volunteers wrap barrels in preparation for
throughout the winter
a record-breaking Holiday Food Drive.
months to shelters,
soup kitchens and pantries. Help us feed hope this holiday season. Contact
Lee and CJ Jacobs kick off the Food Drive
Kathryn at Second Harvest by calling (831) 722-7110 ext 226 to join the effort!
with an early donation of frozen turkeys.
WATSONVILLE COAST PRODUCE
2008 Food Industry Donor of the Year!
Second Harvest has named Watsonville Coast Produce as the 2008 Food Industry Donor of the Year in honor of the more than 1.6
million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables they have generously donated since 2001. This type of long-term relationship is part
of their philosophy of “partners working together.” Their goal is to achieve success through creating trusting relationships with their
customers and with their community.
Since 1974, Watsonville Coast Produce has
provided customers with a full-line of organic and
conventionally grown fresh fruits and vegetables
as a wholesale distributor. Their relationships with
independent grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals
and schools run deep.
The real-world impact of their generosity? The food
Watsonville Coast Produce has donated translates
into over 1.3 million meals for working poor
families in Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties.
Watsonville Coast Produce Owners Jim Henri, John Burkett, Doug Petersen, and Gary Manfre.
As Doug Petersen, Co-Owner and General Manager notes, “Supporting Second Harvest makes good
business sense. We have a symbiotic relationship.
We need a home for our overstock fresh fruits and
vegetables and Second Harvest has a clear need for
good, nutritious food for the many people in need
in our community.”
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Board of Directors
Chair
Peter Townsend
Driscoll Strawberry Associates
Not “Business As Usual”
On the eve of our annual Holiday Food Drive, we at Second
Harvest are gearing up for anything but business as usual. This
upcoming winter season will be especially challenging. The
economy continues to be uncertain, gas prices are skyrocketing,
and the housing crisis has affected so many in our community.
The demand for food is up 30%—the highest number we’ve
seen in 20 years. Working poor families are struggling to
make ends meet, and they are turning to Second Harvest in
record numbers to help put nutritious food on their tables.
This year, we need YOUR help more than ever. Holiday Food
Drive Co-Chairs Sandi Eason and Annie Morhauser are enthusiastic about reaching our
goal of raising 1,400,000 meals during the Holiday Food Drive. They are dedicated
to this ambitious effort because they know that, now more than ever, our hungry
neighbors are depending on us like never before. With their inspiring leadership and
your generosity, this Holiday Food Drive will raise record
Willy Elliott-McCrea
amounts of food—and be anything but business as usual.
Executive Director
MEET THE HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE CO-CHAIRS
Sandi Eason
Annie Morhauser
Community Leader
CEO, Annieglass
I had been aware
of Second Harvest
for many years,
but it wasn’t until
I went to a small
event hosted by
Plantronics that I
knew I had to be
involved. It was at
that event that I
got a much deeper
understanding of the extent of hunger in
our community. To know that 15,400
families need food assistance each month
is heart wrenching. So many seniors and
hard-working families with children in our
community cannot afford a healthy meal.
I empathize with
working families
struggling to put
food on their tables.
While I am known
worldwide for my
fine table art, that
has not always been
the case. During
my college years as
an unknown budding artist, I depended on food stamps
and Social Security benefits from my father
who died when I was ten to help make ends
meet.
In fact, I am so moved by the tremendous
need for healthy food in our community
that I have committed to serve as Holiday
Food Drive Co-Chair for the next four
years!
I often hear the question, “How do you find
the time?” How can I not? I have a strong
desire to pay it forward. My work with
Second Harvest is truly a gift to me—one
which money cannot buy. The feeling that
I get giving back is the most priceless of all
gifts.
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I care deeply about my hungry neighbors
who rely on Second Harvest to help make
ends meet. I know what it is like to not
have enough money to buy what you need.
It undermines your self-confidence and
self-esteem—almost like you are not good
enough to deserve more than peanut butter, tuna and oatmeal.
One visit to Second Harvest and I was very
impressed with what they do. I signed on
immediately to being a Co-Chair and I am
committed to making the Holiday Food
Drive the most successful yet. I would not
have been able to finish art school without
assistance, and I would not be the artist I
am today. Anything I can do to help others
achieve their dreams, I will.
Vice Chair
Ron Slack
Good Times
Vice Chair-Agency Relations
Midge Morrison
United Presbyterian Church
Vice Chair-Development
Jeremy Lezin
Cruz Car Wash
Treasurer
Albert Isaacs
Watkins-Johnson, Ret
Secretary
Kristine Ronzano
Wells Fargo Bank
Past Chair
Ricardo Pineda
Aliph
Martin Bernal
City of Santa Cruz
Donna Blitzer
University of California, Santa Cruz
Phil Dundas
The Landscape Company
Sandi Eason
Coast Commercial Bank
Mary Anne Hughes
Community Pantry
Steve Spragens
Marketing Resources
Kathie Keeley
Santa Cruz Seaside Company
Larry Tousey
Santa Cruz Office of Education
Leilani Williams
Capitola Realty
Advisory Board
Mark Lipton, Chair
Jess Brown
Diane Cooley
Rebecca Garcia
Carolyn Hyatt
Ken Kannappan
Ed Kelly
Brian King
Assemblymember John Laird
Annette Marcum
Harvey Nickelson
Gayle Ortiz
Mary Solari
Feedback is published three times a
year by Second Harvest Food Bank
of Santa Cruz & San Benito Counties
800 Ohlone Parkway
Watsonville, CA 95076
PH: (831) 722-7110
www.thefoodbank.org
Designer: Karen Weston Designs
AGENCY SPOTLIGHT
PAJARO VALLEY LOAVES AND FISHES
Working to Meet Growing Needs
With Help of Second Harvest, Agency Feeds Those Hit by Tough Economy
Since 1989, Loaves and Fishes has been open five days a week to serve the hungry and homeless men, women, and children of
the Pajaro Valley. But recently, tough economic times have sent greater numbers of people to the agency in need of food.
Executive Director Brooke Johnson Parker notes, “We have always
served the families who work the fields of this valley, but now we are
also serving blue- and white-collar working families, including house
painters, construction workers, and real estate agents who have been
hit hard by the recent economic decline.”
Loaves and Fishes was founded in 1989 as an outreach program of St.
Patrick’s Parish of Watsonville, but has operated as an independent
non-profit since 1994. They provide thousands of hot meals and
bags of groceries to working poor families, migrant farm workers,
and homeless, elderly, and disabled individuals. They are the only
weekday lunch program in Watsonville and the only food pantry in
Santa Cruz County open five days a week.
Community volunteers and service-learning students from Moreland
Notre Dame School help serve lunch at Loaves and Fishes.
This year to date, overall participation in Loaves and Fishes’ pantry
and lunch programs has increased 45% and 25% respectively. The
number of clients served on an emergency basis has increased over
80%, as more working and middle class families find their household food budgets stretched thin. Almost half of those served
through the pantry program are children under 18 years of age. “We are committed to increasing our level of service to meet the
growing need for food assistance in our community, and we thank Second Harvest for their continued support of our mission,”
says Johnson Parker.
Second Harvest — A Network That Cares
Second Harvest is comprised of a network of 180 agencies and programs. Together we serve 47,000 people a month.
Here is a list of just a few of these agencies:
Aptos Christian Fellowship • California Grey Bears • Calvary Episcopal • Community Pantry • Davenport Resource Center •
• Elm Street Mission Pantry • Familia Center • Freedom Hunger Pantry • Green Valley Christian • Holy Cross •
• Homeless Services Center • New Life, Santa Cruz • People’s Pantry, Twin Lakes Church • St. Francis Soup Kitchen •
• Salud Para La Gente • Salvation Army, Santa Cruz • Santa Cruz Bible Church • Seventh Day Adventist, Santa Cruz •
• Star of the Sea • Valley Churches United • Walnut Avenue Women’s Center
NEW BOARD MEMBERS JOIN SECOND HARVEST
Steve Spragens
Steve is the Principal with Marketing Resources in Santa Cruz. He has
over 45 years of business management experience with emphasis on
sales and marketing. Most notable
is his long and successful association
with Plantronics, both nationally
and internationally. Steve will also
serve on Development, Endowment
and Finance committees.
Phil Dundas
Phil Dundas is owner of The Landscape Company in Capitola. He is the
father of three young children and has
strong ties to the community. In his
experience as a corporate attorney, he
has advised Boards of Directors of numerous private and public companies.
Phil will also serve on Development
and Finance committees.
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CHEF’S DINNER A HUGE SUCCESS
Community Raises Money for Food For Children
Not an empty seat could be found as the 8th Annual Chefs’ Dinner was a sold-out success. This year’s theme, “Flemish Luxe,”
rich in fall colors and textures, transformed Holy Cross Parish hall into a wondrous evening. Premium wines from local vineyards
were paired with extraordinary courses created by renowned Santa Cruz chefs. The one-of-a-kind silent auction as well as the live
auction packages added to this spectacular affair. All proceeds from the evening help sustain our Food for Children program. We
raised $65,000, thanks to all of you!
We would also like to thank the following chefs for their time and talent as well as the food donations made by these restaurants:
Thomas Vinolus (Bittersweet Bistro), Steve Wilson (Café Cruz), Lee Walters (Stockton Bridge Grille), Scott Cator and Aaron
Cunningham (Casablanca), Michael Clark (Michael’s On Main), Lionel Le Marvan (Ma Maison), and Nicci Tripp (Vida Lounge
& Grill).
Many thanks go out to those providing local libations: Bonny Doon Vineyards, Equinox Wines, Hallcrest Vineyards-Organic
Wine Works, Hunter Hill Vineyard & Winery, Salamandre Wine Cellar, Sarticious Spirits, Silver Mountain Vineyards, Soquel
Vineyards and Thomas Fogerty Winery.
CAPITAL UPDATE
Going GREEN
In an effort to reduce Second Harvest’s impact on the
environment, we are going green!
trim our costs and save trees, you can now receive the
• Tonewsletter
and annual report via email. Just send an email
to Sheree@thefoodbank.org and in the subject line put
“Add me to the email list.”
Our new 30,000 cu. ft. cooler came on-line on August 22nd,
ensuring we will no longer be turning away truck loads of
donated fresh fruits and vegetables!
4 - Fall Newsletter 2008 www.thefoodbank.org
• 100% of our cardboard is recycled.
the fresh fruits and vegetables that we cannot
• Ofdistribute,
75% goes to animal feed.
of our increased electrical needs, due to our new
• 100%
cooler, are being met by our new solar panels, installed in
May 2008.
RICHARD C. SOLARI MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
The 1st Annual Richard C. Solari Memorial Golf Tournament took place Friday, September 12, at Seascape Golf Club. Proceeds
benefit Second Harvest.
IN MEMORY OF
KURT ADAMS
Herna Jansen
In Loving Memory of DOT ALLEN – A friend to all.
Jeanie Golino
C.E. ANGEL – A poet, homeless and founder of “Feeding Friendzz”
on Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz. To feed those who “fell thru the
cracks...”
Catherine Steele
In loving memory of JOHN DAVID MORRIS
Barbara and Harold Morris
GERRY NEWELL 3/15/49 to 4/1/08. Let’s end hunger in this
community!
Amy Newell
PEPPER
James and Nancy Carroll
MARGARET ROONEY
Kevin Rooney
STEVE HUBBARD BAM
William and Cristy Deich
In loving memory of our mother MARY ELIZABETH SIMONS
Robert and Cathy Spencer
The sweet memory of DEBRA GOUVEIA, she gave to so many.
Myra Consulo
RICHARD SOLARI, Our Beloved Grandpa
For Rick, Matt, Jason, and Marissa Ferrante by Ann Ferrante
PEGGY HARPER
Frank and Merrie Ann Turner
ASHLEY KATHARINE SPENCER
John and Ashley Spencer
To the memory of GLORIA HEISS – Loving wife, mother and
grandmother.
Bill, Kevin, Ron, Heidi, Jake & Maggie
JEANNINE WALDRON
George Waldron
DALE HENDERSON – He made a Difference.
Cathy Henderson
IN HONOR OF
RUTH & SHORTY HUGHES
Carol and Brian Zwetig
In honor of MARCY AND GENE, married May 3, 2008.
Lin Colavin
In loving memory of RON CRAIG ISAACS, 1962-2005
The Isaacs Family – Anne, Albert, and Derek
My parents ROSE AND CARL GLICK
For The Gordons – Alan, Dorothy, Jack & Paul by Helaine Glick
BERNICE JONES
Mary Kitaji
PAUL LAPIDUS
E.M. Swart
BILL & MARLOWE KEELEY & sister JILL HOLDAWAY
Kathie Keeley
IRA AND KATE POHL
Friends, Margaret Ann Cottle & Austin Comstock
BILL & MARLOWE KEELEY & sister KATHIE KEELEY
Jill Holdaway
TOM STORM and DOUG SNIDER’S Birthdays
Jim and Carol Storm
If you are interested in including Second Harvest in your estate planning, please contact Willy Elliott-McCrea at:
Willy@thefoodbank.org or (831) 722-7110 ext 211.
5 - Fall Newsletter 2008 www.thefoodbank.org
Kids’ Corner
Local Youth Visit Farmer’s Market to Learn About Produce
Each Friday this summer, children from area housing
complexes visited the Watsonville Farmers’ Market
where a grant from Pajaro Valley Community Health
Trust allowed them to purchase fresh fruits and
vegetables. Under this project, Second Harvest, along
with partners Community Alliance with Family
Farmers (CAFF) and South County Housing, work
with the youth to promote healthy eating habits by
educating them about the benefits of purchasing
fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables.
CALLING
ALL
YOUTH!
Join the Fight!
Client Profile:
Young Food Recipient Says “Thank You”
Ashley Solis is an eight-year-old that wants to thank Second Harvest for helping
her family and community. When Ashley was four years old, she remembers,
“We would walk to Second Harvest
so that they could give us food
because we did not have a car. But
now that the Food For Children
program comes to us, we do not
have to walk.” She says, "the Food
For Children program is a blessing,
because they bring my family canned
goods, fresh fruit and bread.”
How does this food impact her life?
Ashley also says that without the
healthy food her family gets from
Second Harvest, she could not do
her homework and other things she
wants to do. Ashley and her family
now volunteer for the same Food
For Children program that delivers
food to them.
6 - Fall Newsletter 2008 www.thefoodbank.org
Are YOU a teen
interested in joining
the fight against
hunger in your
neighborhood?
Become a Leader for
Anti-hunger!
You will plan projects and activities
to alleviate hunger and promote
nutrition in your community. Earn
community service hours while
making a positive difference in the
lives of others.
To participate in Second Harvest’s
Youth Board please contact:
Kathy MacLean at:
Kathy@thefoodbank.org or
(831) 722-7110 ext 228.
HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE EVENTS
Holiday giving is fun for the whole family! Plan your holiday family fun to include these
events to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank.
November 25th
KION/KCBA TV HOLIDAY HARVEST
KION/KCBA TV will be broadcasting from SaveMart
in Capitola from 8am–8pm. Food will be collected at
other area SaveMart stores, including Watsonville and
Hollister. SaveMart will also offer special, pre-packaged discount bags of food to extend your donation
dollars. Make sure to come out, meet local media
celebrities and help put food on your Central Coast
neighbors’ holiday tables!
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December 6th
KPIG HUMBUG HOEDOWN
Celebrate
the holidays
with KPIG radio in
true “PIG” style. The
annual Humbug Hoedown, Saturday, December
6th, at The Catalyst in Santa
Cruz, will be a rockin’ good
time, benefiting Second Harvest’s
Holiday Food Drive. Non-perishable
food donations will be collected at the
door, and participating concert-goers will
receive raffle tickets for a chance to win
awesome prizes.
December 6th
DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ
HOLIDAY PARADE
Bring the family and join us on Saturday, starting at 10am.
Second Harvest barrels will be visible throughout the
parade route to collect your non-perishable food items.
This parade includes marching bands, children’s groups,
horses, and many entertaining activities. Don’t forget to
show your support for Second Harvest’s parade entry.
December 11th
SNOW NIGHT
December 17th
HOLIDAY
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
The Christmas Project, Salvation Army
and Second Harvest join forces to distribute
fresh produce, protein, bread, and other
lifeline foods to 250 migrant farm worker
families and nine local labor camps. The
food, much of which is donated by people
like you during the Holiday Food Drive,
brings sustenance to seasonal workers and
their families who are unemployed
during the holiday season.
Downtown Santa Cruz is transformed into a breathtaking winter wonderland from 5–8pm. The Downtown
Association of Santa Cruz hosts this annual event to
benefit Second Harvest. Price of admission to play in
the snow is a bag of non-perishable food for the Holiday
Food Drive. Come early to enjoy the fun!
7 - Fall Newsletter 2008 www.thefoodbank.org
Second Harvest Food Bank
800 Ohlone Parkway
Watsonville, CA 95076-7005
(831) 722-7110
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Watsonville, CA
Permit No. 62
hop
pe
Feedho
www.thefoodbank.org
Mark Your Calendars! Annual Nutrition Summit to be Held October 13
Summit Features Assemblyman Laird and Superintendent Watkins
This year’s Annual Nutrition Summit at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos is shaping up to be an exciting, fun-filled event. The
Summit, which runs from 9am to 1pm on Monday, October 13th, will feature workshops, a kick-off speech by Assemblyman
John Laird, keynote address by County Superintendent of Schools Michael Watkins, and presentation of the Food Industry
Donor of the Year award to Watsonville Coast Produce.
The theme of this year’s Summit is “Healthy Eating,
Healthy Children,” and the aim of the Summit workshops
will be increasing awareness and promoting good child
nutrition. Other workshops will provide information about
the new food stamp program, how agencies can pursue
grants, the upcoming 2009 America’s Second Harvest
Hunger Study, and the Food For Children Program.
This year’s Summit is sponsored by Dominican Hospital,
Network for a Healthy California, New Leaf Community
Markets, and Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust.
Superintendent Michael Watkins will
provide the keynote address at Second
Harvest’s Nutrition Summit.
We are looking forward to a great turnout by our member
agencies this year. For more information, contact Director
of Programs, Paul Bellerjeau at: Paul@thefoodbank.org
or (831) 722-7110 ext 220.
Assemblyman John Laird
kicks off the 3rd Annual
Nutrition Summit.
CHAMPIONS
for C H A N G E
Network for a Healthy California
The Need for Second Harvest is Greater Than Ever!
Our 2007-2008 Annual Report is hot off the presses and highlights some amazing accomplishments
thanks to your generous donations of time, food, money, stocks, cars, and other items.
• Over 47,000 people served each month
• 6.5 million pounds of food distributed through our network of 180 agencies and programs
• 56% of the food distributed was fresh fruits and vegetables
• 48,000 volunteer hours – equal to 23 full-time employees
• Our Food For Children program grew from 27 to 41 sites
For more details, download the Annual Report by visiting our website at:
http://www.thefoodbank.org. Simply click on “About Us” and then on “Publications”.
8 - Fall Newsletter 2008 www.thefoodbank.org
Healthy, non-perishable food
donations are critical to meeting
our community’s need.